The latest update from English Football’s Inclusion & Anti-Discrimination Action Plan is due to be released this summer, showcasing the breadth of work being done by the game’s governing bodies and campaign groups to tackle discrimination at all levels.
One of the organisations signed up to the Action Plan is Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) which recently completed 20 Equality & Diversity training workshops for all its 400 match officials, staff and senior managers.
The training focused on guiding the match officials as to what is acceptable and unacceptable language and behaviour in football, what the possible consequences for those who use this language and behaviour, and how to respond if they witness or are made aware of any allegation of abuse.
“I found the training very useful as it illustrated many of the different and diverse issues that we encounter in our everyday lives,” said Premier League referee Lee Mason.
“It reminded me and others in the training group of the often unacceptable and stereotypical language that is still on occasions used in the workplace and more importantly highlighted ways in which to challenge such comments in a non-confrontational manner.”
With a cohort of PGMOL officials currently on duty at UEFA Euro 2016, its key for the organisation to ensure equality and diversity is embedded within all of its training, development and employment practices.
This includes taking a co-ordinated approach to all key equality strands including ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, and human rights.
Mason added: “On a personal level the training enabled me, in a potentially difficult situation, to deal effectively with a reported incident of racist chanting in a game in which I refereed recently.
“Seeing the anguish and how upset the player was when subjected to racist chanting from the crowd will remain with me forever.
“Fortunately for me, with the recent training still fresh in my mind, I was able to deal with this situation in an appropriate manner. The positive response from both team managers, the players and the police was excellent and helped to manage the situation effectively.”
Three refereeing tutors, Lorraine Stone, Errol Walker and Lindsay Robinson, themselves from diverse backgrounds, delivered the session.
“Diversifying our tutor base is a key priority in what the overall work in the Action Plan hopes to achieve," said Funke Awoderu, equality and diversity manager for The FA who worked closely with the PGMOL to co-ordinate the session.
“So having two women and one man all from different backgrounds and walks of life is a real step forward.”
